Forum:Do random dungeon artifacts identify on pickup?

This Forum has been archived

Seems like an easy question, I haven't found it on wiki or guides yet.
Just did Fort Ludios for the first time.

It occurred to me to wonder, eying the massive number of dropped weapons... If the rng gods of the game were to (unlikely as it no doubt is) assign an artifact amid the random drops, will I know when I pick it up? That I've picked up xyz and not just a long sword or axe or so forth.

Or do I have to (it seems wildly laborious) grind all that equipment to an altar, with a multitude of trips back and forth, and wield/wear things one at a time after determining B/U/C state, before interesting bits will identify?

Thanks for any tips / advice therein.

-evoke

You will recognize artifacts when you see them. See them in this case meaning you stand in the same square and can see.

It's extremely unlikely. The initial inventory weapons for soldiers (and indeed for most monsters) are not eligible to be randomly made artifacts.

The most likely circumstances in which you'll stumble across unplaced artifacts are bones of previous adventurers and large weapon shops. They do turn up occasionally, though.